Jimmy Barnes defends Anthony Albanese against Bluesfest boos

Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes has backed Anthony Albanese after the aspiring Prime Minister copped boos and cheers at Bluesfest.

IT may not have been Jimmy Barnes’ idea for Anthony Albanese to borrow his stage for a vote pitch but the rocker and activist was supportive of the aspiring Prime Minister after he received boos and cheers at the festival on Sunday.

Barnes said Albo had been a regular at his shows over the years and didn’t hesitate to give him airtime ahead of his performance in the Mojo tent.

The much-loved rocker was approached by Bluesfest organisers late last week with the proposal to give Albo a couple of minutes to address the crowd about causes close to the singer’s heart, including Indigenous affairs and support for the embattled arts industry.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese gave a speech and introduced Barnesy at Bluesfest. Picture: Toby Zerna.

Someone finally gave Barnes the mic at Bluesfest. Picture: Toby Zerna

Albanese was at the festival as a guest of Bluesfest and spent much of the afternoon greeting punters out front and rock stars backstage.

But Barnesy fans were confused when his band members took their places and an announcer declared the imminent arrival on stage of the “man that represents the working class people.”

The audience expected to see the Working Class Man walk on stage, not Albanese, and were initially unimpressed.

While there were boos from the crowd, they changed their tune and cheered the ALP leader as spruiked his support for more arts funding and a referendum to recognise First Nations people in the Australian constitution.

“Everyone knows that Anthony is a big music fan. He’s been to Chisel shows and many of my shows over the years,” Barnes said.

“He’s committed to the arts and the entertainment industry and considering how busy he is at the moment, I thought it was good that he was at Bluesfest.

“He could see our industry doing what it does best again – playing live music.”

Originally published as Jimmy Barnes defends Anthony Albanese against Bluesfest boos